Construction Update for Middle Plaza at 200-500 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, Silicon Valley

A recent site visit by SFYIMBY reveals that construction is well underway for the mixed-use development at Middle Plaza in Menlo Park, Silicon Valley. The project will bring 215 new apartments beside 10,000 square feet of retail, a new public park, and 276,610 square feet of new office space within walking distance from a Caltrain station. Stanford University is sponsoring the development.

300 El Camino Real office building, image by Andrew Campbell Nelson

The 60-foot tall development will yield 429,740 square feet of total built area across six buildings, with 276,610 square feet of residential use, 10,000 square feet for retail, and 153,120 square feet of offices. Parking for both residents and office workers will include space for 233 bicycles and 930 cars, the majority of which will be below-ground.

Middle Plaza site plan, image courtesy Stanford

There will be 215 rental units split ranging from one to two bedrooms, of which ten will be sold below market rate. The amenities will be split between the three residential structures, including a fitness center, pool, and spa. The working residents will benefit from the business and library center, outdoor workspace, and community workshop area for hobbies and other personal projects. For entertainment, there will be outdoor dining facilities with cooking pits.

Middle Plaza at 400 El Camino Real residence alng El Camino Real, design by the Dahlin Group

400C El Camino Real, image by Andrew Campbell Nelson

Dahlin Group is responsible for the residential projects’ architecture, with DES Architects + Engineers in charge of the office building architecture. While both programs will give a unique style, both take inspiration from the Californian Spanish Colonial past. The facade material will include a wood shingle, bricks, and adobe-color stucco walls. Guzzardo Partnership is in charge of landscaping.

300 El Camino Real at Middle Plaza, rendering from Stanford University

300 El Camino Real office building, image by Andrew Campbell Nelson

The project comes as part of the El Camino Real / Downtown Specific Plan for land use designation across Menlo Park. This includes promoting public transit and introducing urbanization to the predominantly suburban project. Stanford will provide $5 million for a proposed Caltrain bicycle and pedestrian crossing and $1 million for the Atherton Education Foundation across ten years. A publicly accessible plaza at Middle Avenue will be open to all from 6 AM to midnight.

200 El Camino Real, design by DES Architects

200 El Camino Real steel frames built up, image by Andrew Campbell Nelson

The address is ten minutes away from the Menlo Park Caltrain station by foot. Just south of the station is downtown Menlo Park, offering about a dozen small blocks of retail, restaurants, and other amenities. Residents will also enjoy having a grocery store as an immediate neighbor.

The residential buildings are set to finish their wood framing between April and June, and the offices on a similar time frame.

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